Paris!

Bonjour!

It's been an exciting two days. Yesterday at two we departed from Lacoste and arrived in Paris around seven by train. After a 30 minute walk to our hotel, we quickly set our stuff down and ran to the nearest sandwich stand to get some delicious hot paninis, before leaving to go see the last Harry Potter movie! It was so excellent. This morning we woke up at 8 Am, and instead of the sunny summer day we were hoping for, the weather was cold and rainy. I found myself wishing for my water-proof winter coat and boots that are tucked away in Savannah. After breakfast at the hotel we hit the Musee D'Orsay! It was so fanstastic, I am so in love with the impressionists and post-impressionists, especially Monet, Degas and Van Gogh. I wish I could see colors like they could. My favorite new painting of the day was the painting Mademoiselle Carlier (a dame au turban) by Levy-Dhurmer. The way he painted her face and the fabric throughout the image was astounding.  Also her turban is so fierce. After the museum, we walked through the Place de la Concord and to Maxim's Paris, hoping to sneak in to see the beautiful interiors, but it was closed :( We then walked up the Champs Elessays past the seats set up for the end of the Tour de France on Sunday. We walked through Tuileries Gardens to see the Petit and Grand Palais, though we didn't actually go in because the admission wasn't covered in our Museum Passes. We then finally got a break from the rain when we went to a small resteraunt for lunch. After that we walked up the Champs and did a little shopping :) Shopping in Paris is the best, so many excellent clothes. We walked all the way to the Arc de Triomphe, and after 250 steps we emerged from the top to see that the skies had finally cleared and the sun was timidly shinning. After the Arc we walked back down the other side of the Champs and stopped at the dessert store that created the first french Macaroon! They were expensive, but worth every penny! After finally taking the very cramped metro back to our hotel we rested our very wet and tired feet for about ten seconds and then went to the Chinese food restaurant next door for a late dinner, then to a 24hr convenience store to get some snacks for the tomorrow. In the store though, instead of food, we found a super random, fully decked out clown including his own personal clown music. Paris is so random. Lots planned for tomorrow, and hopefully no rain!

Au Revoir